AqP New Applicant - 2025 Conference Attendee Option

Choose this course if you are a first-time applicant for AqP Designation, you will be attending the 2025 AOAP Conference and Exposition in St Pete Beach, FL, February 3 - 6. Please read the requirements carefully before selecting this option!

Become a designated Aquatic Professional with the AqP Designation by the Association of Aquatic Professionals. The AqP Designation sets you apart and brings you into an exclusive network of professionals who have shown their commitment to aquatic education, certification and professional development and sets them apart from other aquatic professionals. 

AqP Requirements include: 

Prerequisites - Must be uploaded no later than January 31, 2025

• Be a current member of the Association of Aquatic Professionals and maintain membership throughout your designation period. If you are not a current AOAP member, choose the Non-Member option to register and receive a one-year AOAP membership as part of your registration. 
• A minimum of 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time aquatic work experience
• Current pool operator certification
• Current Basic First Aid and CPR/AED certification 
• Current lifeguard instructor certification and/or swim instructor trainer certification
• Sign off on a safety-oriented, excellence-driven commitment statement

Degree or Equivalent Requirement - Must be uploaded by January 31, 2025

AqP applicants must have a degree from an accredited College or University with at least 120 credit hours.   

If you have not earned a degree there is an additional CEU requirement based on any higher education credit hours you may have completed:

• 4.0 (40 hours) additional elective CEU's required if you have 0-59 credit hours
• 2.0 (20 hours) additional elective CEU's required if you have 60-119

Continuing Education CEU's - Upload copies of your additional CEUs by January 31, 2025. If you need to complete additional CEUs at conference, please reach out to Kirsten at kirsten@aquaticpros.org. 

Earn these CEU credits from any recognized education source such as courses on Splash-EDU, conferences, seminars, workshops, and even relevant experience. You can go back five (5) years but cannot submit any education event or certification twice (including pre-requisites). 

• .2 CEU (2 hours) in Risk Management
• .2 CEU (2hours) in Programming and Staff Training
• .2 CEU (2 hours) in Drowning Prevention
• .2 CEU (2 hours) in Leadership/Executive Development
• .2 CEU (2 hours) in Diversity and Inclusion
• 1.5 CEU (15 hours) in a wide variety of elective categories

CORE Content - To be completed in person at the AOAP 2025 Conference and Exposition

Complete the five (5) core educational sessions by attending in-person at the AOAP conference. You will have two (2) options for each category to fit into your schedule. 

• Risk Management
  • User Groups and Your EAP: Will they know what to do? - Tuesday at 10:50 a in Long Key OR
  • Emergency Management: Taking care of your team, before and after an incident - Wednesday at 3:15 p in Bird / Indian
• Programming and Staff Training
  • Championing Competition: Key Strategies for Establishing and Running Lifeguard Competitions - Tuesday at 2:45 p in Bird / Indian OR
  • Revenue Rethink: Unorthodox Methods to Boost Revenue - Wednesday at 11 a in Sawyer Key
• Drowning Prevention
  • US National Water Safety Action Plan Implementation, Implications and Guidance - Monday at 3:30 p in Snowy Egret OR
  • When & Why Drownings Occur with Lifeguards on Duty - Tuesday at 9:30 a in Snowy Egret
• Leadership/Executive Development
  • Personality Workshop: Bridging the Communication Gap Between Leaders and Their Team - Tuesday at 9:30 a in Bird / Indian OR
  • Speaking the Admin Language - Tuesday at 4:15 p in Long Key
• Diversity and Inclusion
  • How to Run Programs for Swimmers with Autism, Anxiety, Sensory and Motor Challenge - Monday at 2:10 p in Long Key OR
  • Inclusive Language for the Aquatic Professional - Wednesday at 4:45 p in Tarpon Key

Final Exam - You will complete this in person on Thursday, February 6 at 8:55 am. Please bring your laptop computer!

Pass a multiple-choice exam with a 75% or better. Questions evaluate your knowledge across the prerequisites and CORE categories.